It's still pretty cold in England. That trickster April will have our faces feel the sun one minute and freeze to bits the next. Over the last weeks I've been working on a goal for my front garden. The goal is to make it pretty or prettier. And specifically to build 3 planter boxes for my front fence that I can use to plant nice happy, colourful flowers in. I'm sure it will delight my neighbours as much as me. Here's what I was after

To kick things off, I went to B&Q to get the wood and kit as I really like building things up from scratch. While there, I also got a few shrubs to pop into the ground and a couple of flower pots also. It's amazing how in just three weeks they have been in the ground, they took root and are transforming how nice my front entrance looks.

And this got me thinking about how my gardening project was a useful case study for Goal realisation. You see, there are lessons in my garden project that as productivity coach helping clients make results happen I think are worth noting.

And they transfer to any goal.

Here there are:

1. Have a specific goal and make it into a project: For me that was 3 planters being built that I can later populate with shrubs and flowers.
2. Get clear on what you need and where to source it by making a list.
3. Recruit help and inspiration: I sought inspiration online by looking at images of pretty planters and I recruited my partner to get involved so that transforming the front garden could be "our project". This resulted in my first ever Friday date night being a B&Q trip. We had great laughs about it and created a super neat memory. Who needs Soho and dinner out and all that when one can simply be practical :)
4. Get started right away. For me that was getting a couple of plants we could just pop into the ground to indicate folks this garden is being worked on.
5. Now, 3 weeks later, I have my wood cut and we're just waiting for the rain to stop so we can build the planters. Who knows maybe this bank holiday weekend?

I can't wait to the final result but in reality, it is the work along the way to the finish that is proving to be fun and rewarding. I've also learned new carpentry and gardening skills in the process. And, making this project be something I got my partner involved in also, helped me deepen our bond as well.

Now, it's your turn! And here are your instructions:

1. Write down a goal and turn it into a project. A project means we have a starting point and a clear end point. An outcome. It is this that you will be working towards. It has to be something real and specific and something we can see. For example: an updated spiffy CV, newly painted living room, great holiday booked etc.
2. Make a list of what you need in terms of resources and where or who can help you get them.
3. Add inspiration and help with a bit of research but set a finite time on it. For example "I'll give myself 10min to search images and pull out 3 that really inspire me". This could be quotes, contacts etc.
4. Do something towards your project right away.
5. Keep taking regular steps. If you have my newest GRID book then you will see why goals broken down into bite size tasks help us surf energy, gain motivation and move us towards results sure fast.

I hope that you will connect with me here and share your work. Remember, we always inspire each other! When our brains see other people achieve things, we gain vital proof it's possible. Now we just have to search our heart and ask "Is this something I also want for myself?" If the heart jumps for joy, the mind always finds a way. This forum and the upcoming 30 day Goal setting course will help also.

So plant your dreams, goals and ideas and let them take root so you can have your garden.